Walter R. Brown went to sea at the age of 18 working on a coastal tanker as an ordinary seaman. Spending four years in the Navy in the Far East, Mr. Brown rose to the rank of Lieutenant while serving on a Navy tanker and as navigator on a LST in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Brown was honorably discharged in Japan. While there he bought a 36′ Bug-eye ketch that he planned to sail back to the States but instead sailed around Japan. In 1968 he returned to the US and got his USCG third mate’s unlimited license. He later joined States Marine Lines in their Tokyo office.

In 1973 Mr. Brown joined Texaco New York’s Marine Department and subsequently worked in their Strategic Planning and Government Relations departments. He left Texaco in 1988 and bought a company that built ocean-going sailboats in Taiwan. In 1993 Mr. Brown joined a Hong Kong/Vancouver-based company operating tankers and bulk carriers.

Walter Brown currently serves as President of Henry L. & Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, and as an Advisor to the Sea Education Association, Mystic Seaport, and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He currently has a USCG 100-ton master license. Mr. Brown’s seafaring adventures of late include a recent sail from Newfoundland to Greenland and Labrador.

“Love to sail! Available! Have sea-bag; will travel!”
—W.B

Our mission

... is to preserve and perpetuate the maritime history of the United States and to invite all Americans to share in the challenging heritage of seafaring.